Earlier I wrote about how some of the most lucrative award travel redemptions are often the most boring. Here, I want to point out my current list of the 10 best airline award ticket sweet spots. Top 10 Airline Award Ticket Sweet Spots There’s a dividing line between aspirational and practical and my list below […]
Epilogue: Blogging The Middle East Adventure Of A Lifetime
My 2022 Middle East trip report is finally done…three months and 62 segments later. Whew. I want to take a few moments to reflect back on the trip itself and also reflect back on the process of blogging an extended trip report. Blogging An Extended Trip Report + Final Reflections On Middle East Trip I […]
Qatar Airways CEO Offers To Point Out Lufthansa’s “Mistakes”
The CEO of Qatar Airways has graciously offered to fly the new first class and business class products on Lufthansa and offer personal consultation to the CEO of Lufthansa on the “mistakes” that were made. Just another press conference for Akbar Al Baker… Qatar Airways CEO On New Lufthansa Business And First Class Product I […]
Review: Qatar Airways A330-300 “First Class” Doha – Amman
Qatar Airways sells its forward cabin as “first class” on flights within the Middle East. While the seat is identical to what is sold as business class on other routes, there are minor differences in service both on the ground and in the air that distinguish business from first class. I flew first class on […]
My Top 10 Flights In 2022
As 2022 draws to a close, it is time for my annual “Top 10” series. Here, I’ll look back on my 10 favorite flights from 2022. As a reminder, this is not a top-10 all-time list nor does it necessarily contain the 10 most luxurious flights I enjoyed this year. Rather, it represents my subjectively […]
My Top 10 Airline Meals Of 2022
For this year’s final Meal of the Week, I count down my top 10 airline meals of 2022. To be clear, these are only the best meals I have enjoyed over the last year, not my top 10 all-time list. I traveled all over the world in 2022 and experienced so many superb airline meals […]
Review: Qatar Airways 787-9 Business Class
While not as spacious as its flagship Qsuite product, I found the Qatar Airways 787-9 business class suite quite user-friendly and very comfortable for my overnight journey from Doha to Copenhagen. Qatar Airways 787-9 Business Class Review When there was no nonstop or one-stop award space available from Doha to Los Angeles, I decided to […]
Review: Qatar Airways A350-1000 Business Class
There is business class and then there is Qsuite business class. My longhaul flight from Dallas to Doha onboard the Qatar Airways A350-1000 in Qsuite business class represented the pinnacle of in-flight comfort and onboard service. In every way, Qatar Airways offers a world-class premium product. Qatar Airways A350-1000 Business Class Review I last flew […]
Introduction: A Middle East Adventure Many Times Over
Welcome to my next trip report, which will recount my journey to three countries in the Middle East as well as to Turkey. An Epic Middle East Adventure Many Times Over A dear friend took an extended holiday in the Middle East in the spring. While familial and work obligations kept me from being gone […]
Review: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge Doha (DOH)
The Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge in Doha (DOH) remains a superb lounge and is now open to all oneworld business class travelers. I recently spent several hours here prior to my Qatar Airways flight to Copenhagen and again prior to my American Airlines flight to New York and think this lounge is getting […]
Great Service Can Overcome An Otherwise Unremarkable Flight
As I reflect more on my Kenya Airways 787-8 journey from Nairobi to New York in business class, I cannot help but point out how much warm service can make a difference in influencing how I rate and review a flight. How Great Service Can Best Distinguish An Airline, Even With A Mediocre Business Class […]
Candlelight Breakfast In Lufthansa First Class
I flew from New York to Frankfurt in Lufthansa First Class earlier this week, which was a fairly typical (great) flight overall, but there was one element I particularly appreciated that showed special attention to detail and great customer service: a candlelight breakfast. Candlelight Breakfast In Lufthansa First Class Breakfast is a challenge on LH401. […]
First Impressions: Qatar Airways A330 “First” Class
A last-minute aircraft swap meant my Boeing 777-300ER with Qsuites became an Airbus A330 with a far inferior “first” class seat, but my short flight from Doha to Amman still proved to be excellent. Qatar Airways A330 First Class – My First Impressions After arriving from Tokyo I enjoyed a breakfast feast in the Al […]
Los Angeles To Amman Via Tokyo And Doha
Yesterday I provided first impressions of my JAL First Class flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo. I realized after I probably should have provided some context first. Los Angeles To Amman The Long Way Via Asia I was joining a friend in Amman, the trip was last-minute, and there was no award space on Royal […]
First Impressions: Qatar Airways 787-9 Business Class
Rather than fly nonstop from Doha to Helsinki on a 787-8, I flew from Doha to Copenhagen then connected to Helsinki to get on a 787-9 flight, which features Qatar Airways’ latest closed-door business class product, a variation on the Qsuite found on 777 and select A350 aircraft. Qatar Airways 787-9 Business Class – My […]
First Impressions: Qatar Airways A350-1000 Business Class
It’s really funny how little we are willing to accept in a business class product after flying Qatar Airways, especially onboard a longhaul A350-1000 flight in business class. Qatar Airways A350-1000 Business Class – My First Impressions I recently flew from Dallas to Doha onboard Qatar’s flagship A350-1000 aircraft. This aircraft is at the heart […]
Which Carriers Still Require Masks On Flights To USA?
With the U.S. mask mandate no longer in force, many foreign carriers have dropped masking requirements for U.S. flags. Two large flag carriers, however, will still require masks…for now. List Of Carriers Which Still Require Masks To USA All U.S. airlines have dropped masking requirements, except on flights to destinations in which masks are required. […]
Business Class Doors Are Just An Unnecessary Gimmick
Doors in business class suites? An unnecessary gimmick as far as I am concerned, based upon my travels and experiences onboard. Business Class Doors – Who Needs Them? American Airlines and United Airlines have hinted they may introduce new business class suites with doors which close, ostensibly providing more privacy and creating a more premium […]
Review: ANA 777-300ER “The Room” Business Class
All Nippon Airways always impresses, but I walked off my flight from London to Tokyo with a huge smile on my face. Business class on the ANA 777-300ER, called “The Room,” is among the best premium cabin products in the world. ANA 777-300ER “The Room” Business Class Review My whole trip centered around this flight. […]
ANA “The Room” Business Class: Simply Spectacular
After a pair of forgettable flights on EgyptAir, I was greatly looking forward to boarding my ANA 777-300ER flight from London to Tokyo, which featured ANA’s latest business class product called “The Room.” My expectations were high but somehow they were still exceeded and I stepped off the flight smiling from ear to ear. ANA […]
